Harrow v Tonbridge

Hmmm... The Harrow registration form states at the top that most applicants don't specify house choices, so their applications are shown to all housemasters.

What's being said on this thread seems at odds with that.

Yes, the Harrow system sounds definitely the worst of the three! Thanks for the advice HG. Am kicking myself for not getting on with this in January but was rather suffering from my general sulk about having to think and strategise for schools my son with go to when virtually 14 while I am still trying to get him fully settled at his prep. It all seems so unreasonable - with a 13 year old as well I know perfectly well that I have no idea which school will suit the little one yet and genuinely resent having to worry about year 6 pre-testing - we could have spared ourselves 8+ and gone the 11+ route if wanted that. Hey ho

This leaves me wondering what is the best way of choosing or being chosen by an HM?

I think Eton's process is fairer, as you don't choose an HM until AFTER you've sat pre test AND passed.
With Harrow's method, the first interview is not entirely clear, also you could get all excited about being on an HM's list and end up not passing pre test. Those not invited for the first interview are usually none the wiser that another process has first gone ahead before pre test day. Even some prep heads aren't aware. although it was written in the prospectus last year but it's rather downplayed and people miss it thinking the pre test is the first stage.
In past years prep heads had to scrabble for their boys to be invited for the first interview by ringing up a preferred HM and 'selling' the boy. But last year they changed the process and announced that the HM's will directly contact who they want to invite, so prep heads shouldn't bother ringing.

God how complicated. The mum I mentioned was at DS's prep so a very very long time ago.
Eton I think also have fairly complex system, an HM chooses a boy and vice versa, I think boys meet three and you and the HM's put their 1st 2nd and 3rd choice, I suppose at least you've already got the place.
Win Colls method isn't perfect but perhaps more understandable although I guess some could say it's a bit tedious doing repeated visits to the school with your DS when you haven't even got a place.

HG you are right inpart, I remember that thread.

Basically you have a first interview. You could be invited to an interview by just one of your preferred HM's meaning the others aren't interested. If that HM likes you, you get added to their list, regardless of wether they were your first, second or third choice you're just glad to be on a list at this stage

If you're lucky enough, you may get invited to interview by two HM's or all three. If all like the candidate, NOW, you are in the enviable position to choose between the three. This was the case with the poster you spoke of.

You may be invited to interview by just one HM and if he doesn't like the candidate, doesn't get added to his list, although can still come for pre test but unlikely to get in.

You may be very unlucky and may not be invited at all for interview, which means you're still eligible for the pre test, but you're sort of wasting your time.

English is not my first language so I may not be explaining this very well. But this is kind of how it works, although it's all changed from this year now with ISEB also being introduced into the process.

Much prefer Eton's process and Winchester's from what I've read here.

Yes many are about to leave, which I agree is very unfortunate. If I was you I'd pick one who's been in the job 1-2 years. He will have known at least 2 years before he started the job that he was taking over, would have been in the house quite a lot over those two years showing prospective parents round attending social functions to meet current parents meeting the boys and thus would be known to the current boys.
I believe the job is also only given to existing Dons no outsiders so he'll also be very familiar with the school.
When we choose an HM it was a toss up between an existing HM or one waiting to start the job, we choose the former but would have been happy with the latter if we hadn't liked the other. We met both twice for well over an hour and they talked about how they run the house or how they planned to run the house, we found this very helpful and it was a difficult decision. Someone complained to me once that an HM they met only talked about himself, and didn't ask their DS about his hobbies etc. But this is point of meeting him you are deciding if you like him and his ethos, not asking him to be impressed by your DS.
In a book called Heads Up Dr Townsend says even at this early stage the HMs are looking at the parents and deciding if they're the sort of parents that would suit the school!

I have to admit I am rather struggling with the whole housemaster thing at Winchester. There seems to have been a major continuity error with most houses getting new masters in about 2008/9 so now, with the exception of two houses which are already full, for 2019 entrance one has the choice of masters who will leave 1-2 yrs after they boy arrives and those who are only in their first or second year, neither of which seems ideal to me. Perhaps I am overthinking it (and if I flail around for much longer they will all be full!). Happy gardening - am I overthinking ? (Apologies for hijack )

Don't you sometimes get a choice of HM at Harrow? I seem to recall a mum proudly saying that after interviews with three HMs I think in yr 6 before the pre test in yr 7 two HMs wanted her DS. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick and this was quite a long time ago so perhaps things have changed.

"I worry about boys keeping up with the work"
There's little or no spoon feeding at Winchester, DS2 is currently gaming revising (optimistic smiley) and it seems that for 1 subject in particular the Dons with their excellent knowledgable teaching have ignited his interest, he's passionate about it, talks with enthusiasm and a great deal of knowledge but a significant and essential parts of the syllabus that he can easily research himself have been in parts barely touched, he knows he has to learn it, but nothing much has been said and he's clearly being expected to sort it out and put the work in in his own time. I can easily see how the unmotivated or lazy could not do well. I think many of the Dons think that the boys know what they have to do, are very happy to help if theyre asked to (they definitely expect a boy to seek help rather than offering it) but if a boy doesn't bother it's not their problem.This may change with the new head coming in.
I also know some boys and parents feel there's a lot of pressure, in a school where A*s are the norm, but as is a bit of a laissez faire attitude to work, I suspect if your struggling to achieve both you must feel under considerable pressure.

Its definitely the Housemaster choosing the boy at Harrow.

My DS is at Winchester which is very very "house based"". You begin the admissions process by choosing a house/HM, you then registered with your chosen house and the HM of that house interviews your DS and decides if he wants him in his house or if he doesn't want him if the school in general. Once there he is the most important person in your DS's school life. If you have any choice I not sure how it works at Harrow find one that you feel has a similar outlook on a life as you do, listen to what he says about the way he runs the house, watch him with the boys, my DS would say the boys don't necessarily have to like him but they must respect him, IMO your looking for someone with a general air of authority, the boys aren't looking for a friend rather someone who they feel will be there for them and will look after their best interests, and most importantly someone one really who cares about them. Also someone who makes it clear what he expects and what is acceptable and what is not. My DS once said he didn't like his HM (he was going through a negative patch) he lie ed all his faults but then said that he knew that he really cared about him and would do anything to help him that for me cancels our any minor failing he might have. Now he frequently says "I agree with Mr X about such and such", "Mr X sorted that out for me", or if Mr X says it's ok that means it's ok. You also don't have to feel he's you best friend but someone who you can talk to easily if everything is going wrong.
It's a hard job being an HM their poor wives must hate it because it's 24/7 33 weeks of the year, ultimately to be a good one be the boys must at the very least become as important as your own family. Do you feel that the ones you meet are that committed? Ask about weekends etc. Does the poor sod have much of a life? Ultimately if he's talking about his hobbies painting sea scapes and collecting and pressing dried flowers in his spare time and shows you his art work then ultimately he's probably isn't giving enough time to his house!

A long time ago (DS2 is now in yr 13) I looked at Tonbridge and really liked it, the head was at SPS and I felt was trying to create a similarish school; a 21st century education. But they were quite honest and said really it's not a full boarding school, weekly and day only so it was no good for us.
Lots from DS's old prep go to Harrow I never looked at it as the location might as well have been the moon its so inconvenient for us. I also had this gut feeling I personally wouldn't like it; I don't like outdated ridiculous uniform or meaningless ritual, a fairly recent TV programe about it proved this to me! But nearly all we know (we're talking quite a lot over the years) bar one who've sent their DS's there really like it.
Tonbridge used to be more academic and it probably still is, a couple of boys at DS's school didn't get into Tonbridge but got into Harrow.
Hope this helps.